17-Oct-2000
I'm slowly working on this. It's midterm season and yes, I have to write papers. BLECH~! But my muses won't let me waste all my time writing on school stuff.
Duo: Icky school stuff. You don't need it.
Duo, it's necessary to pass the class, but I can
procrastinate a little bit. :) I apologize for the
crossposting.
Author: Tigress Pern
Archived at: GW Addiction
Warning: Alternate Universe
Disclaimer: GW isn't mine. 'nuff said.
They tried again the next morning to contact Duo's spirit, but the ghost was too tired to do more than answer yes or no. The session lasted ten minutes. Saddened that they couldn't speak more with him, the boys decided that it was better to give Duo a couple days to recuperate. It was agreed that on Wednesday, they'd hold another session.
By the time Trowa said goodbye to his friends it was nearly one in the afternoon. Catherine and Heero were working outside raking leaves and clearing out debris. Trowa immediately began pruning back the dying shrubs. There was so much that needed clearing in the yard that it would take them days to remove it all. He tried to focus all his attention to the task at hand, but his mind kept wandering. What sort of person had Duo Maxwell been? Did he love his parents? Did he laugh a lot or did he cry? Was he happy or not? What had caused him to die? All these questions swam around with no answers. From what Trowa had experienced, he knew Duo liked suspense novels, music and seemed to be lonely. Just like me, Trowa thought as he looked out across the backyard towards the house. I bet Duo has been lonely a long time.
Catherine offered to cook that night. The three sat at the kitchen table sipping vegetable soup and buttering hot rolls. Silence hung heavily about them, like a thick fog. It was hard to know what to say around Heero. He was so stern looking that Trowa wasn't sure what to expect. Towards the end, as the silence continued, Catherine finally gave in.
"What do you think of the house Heero?" she asked hoping for some response.
"It is fine." He answered dipping his spoon into his soup.
"Do you know anything about its history. I was told your family has lived here for four generations." Heero swallowed a mouthful of soup.
"They say its haunted." Heero replied. Catherine shook her head.
"I don't believe in ghosts. This house has just had poor management. We plan to turn it into a thriving Bed and Breakfast." She said enthusiastically.
"You won't succeed. My grandfather said this place was cursed the night the boy took his life."
"Really?" Catherine narrowed her eyes. "I don't believe in curses either."
"To each their own." Heero glanced over at Trowa. Trowa looked down at his hand and noticed that he was gripping his spoon so tightly that his knuckles were white. Immediately he released the spoon. It clattered to the table.
"Trowa?" Shoving back his chair, Trowa stood. "Trowa?"
"May I be excused?" he asked his sister. Catherine nodded and he swept up his dishes, depositing them in the sink. Quickly exiting, he didn't notice the look of worry on his sister's face. Heero studied him as he left before turning back to Catherine.
"Your brother seems troubled."
"I don't know what's wrong. Nothing has been the same since our parents died." She whispered. Folding her hands in front of her, Catherine tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. What had angered him like that she wondered? Had it been something she'd said? Ignoring the troubled woman, Heero continued to eat. He's seen him.
Sitting at his computer, Trowa tapped on the keys. He had a report to finish before Friday and this was as good a time as any to work on it. Yet, Heero's words kept interrupting his thoughts. This house was cursed the moment the boy took his life, he'd said. No, that wasn't true. Duo hadn't committed suicide; he'd choked on something. It was an accident.
Something wet touched the back of Trowa's hand. Looking down, he found himself staring down at a tear as it rolled off onto the keys. I'm crying? Gingerly touching his face, Trowa found a damp path running down his cheek. His fingers traced it up until he felt another tear sliding down. Pulling his hand away, he brought it in front of him, rubbing his index and thumb together in wonder. Why am I crying? I don't know Duo. I have no idea what sort of person he was. What is wrong with me?
"People say that you committed suicide and that means you were messed up. But I don't believe that. I think you were a decent person." Trowa whispered to the air. He thought he felt the temperature dip, but couldn't tell for sure. If it had, it was slight that he barely even shivered. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Quickly wiping his eyes, Trowa hoped he didn't look that bad. He didn't need Catherine to find him like this. Walking over, he opened the door to find Heero standing there.
"May I come in?" the boy asked. Trowa nodded. "Arigatou." Stepping inside, he walked to the middle of the room and waited while Trowa closed the door.
"How can I help you?"
"You've seen him, haven't you?" Heero demanded.
"Who?"
"The ghost. The ghost of Duo Maxwell." Trowa shivered at the sound of Duo's name being said with such ferocity.
"What if I have?" Trowa challenged. Heero turned around so that his back was to Trowa.
"Then you should find a priest to help him move on. He doesn't need to be here."
"Really? Is that your expert opinion?"
"That ghost is dangerous." Heero said curtly.
"How do you know?"
"Because my grandfather knew the boy. He said he was trouble. That he wasn't normal."
"Your grandfather knew him?" Trowa asked in amazement. Heero turned back.
"Hai. He knew Duo Maxwell. He had nothing good to say about him. He killed himself to get even with everyone. My grandfather told me before he died, that Duo Maxwell was the richest boy in town and tried to buy his favor. He used to buy my grandfather lavish presents so that they would be friends. But Grandfather wouldn't be bought. He was a selfish spoiled brat and nobody liked him. He's scared off twelve other owners, including his parents. It's time someone did something about it." Trowa was taken aback. He hadn't known the ghost to be malicious. In fact, Duo had been a pleasant invisible friend. Someone Trowa could pour out his heart to. What Heero said wasn't making any sense. "Look. Grandfather said, the less contact you have with the ghost, the better. His energy will weaken and he won't be able to harm anyone. So if anything strange happens. Ignore it." With that, Heero strode past Trowa, opened the door and left.
In a slight daze, Trowa staggered towards his bed. No, Duo couldn't be bad. He glanced over at his computer and noticed that the return key had been hit several times and that a new line had been added report. The line consisted of one word. Hiroshi.
"Here it is. Hiroshi Yuy. Born August 25th 1934, died January 6th 1998. He was sixty-four." Quatre read. "That's why I know the name Yuy."
"Why?" Trowa asked as Quatre removed the microfilm containing the newspaper dating back two years.
"Because, Hiroshi Yuy was a millionaire when he died. He actually had over two million dollars in stocks, bonds, savings, and property. He left most of his money to his family and the rest he donated to some weird foundation that deals with paranormal activity. Specifically, uneasy spirits like Duo. My father thought it was odd that such a sensible gentleman would believe in the paranormal. I guess it makes more sense now that we know he knew about Duo's ghost."
"I guess." Trowa replied sinking into a chair so that he was no longer hovering over Quatre's shoulder. "I wonder why Hiroshi didn't like Duo. Was it because he was rich or that Duo was actually as bad as Heero makes him out to be?"
"You said you've had no problems right?" Trowa nodded. "Then maybe Hiroshi and Duo had some sort of rivalry. We'll have to ask Duo on Wednesday."
"We will. Thanks for your help."
"No problem. Hey, I don't think Duo's that bad. Oh, that reminds me. I talked to my grandmother. She went to this school in the late forties. She was a senior when the `Maxwell Suicide' made headlines. She's bringing over her old yearbook. I don't know if there is a picture of him or not in it, but there might be."
"That's wonderful." Trowa exclaimed smiling. "Then we'll have a face to go with the name." He hugged Quatre. Surprised by his friend's suddenly show of emotion, Quatre didn't squash the moment and instead reveled in the fact that Trowa was beginning to act like he had when he was little.
Releasing his friend, Trowa smiled and the two headed home. As they were leaving, Wufei came running up with Meiran.
"Hey, what are you two doing?" He asked.
"Doing research." Trowa replied.
"Hi Trowa, Quatre." Meiran said smiling at both. "Trowa I hear that you are holding up in the haunted house. Tell me. Have you seen the ghost? Wufei won't say a thing and I know both he and Quatre spent the night on Saturday." The boys looked at each other.
"Well..."
"I knew it you have!" she exclaimed. "Listen, I know how to make charms to scare it off if it is bothering you."
"Thank you for the offer, but actually it is a quiet spirit. We've actually never seen it." Trowa half-lied. He'd seen it, sort of, but the others hadn't. Meiran frowned.
"I didn't know you believed in ghosts." Wufei said staring at his girlfriend. She crossed her arms and harrumphed.
"Just because I'm good at fencing and track does not mean I'm not interested in the supernatural. I've just never expressed my opinions to you because you didn't appear to believe in it." Meiran snapped. "I know this may be presumptuous of me, but would it be all right if I come over with Wufei on Wednesday. I know he's going over because he's not coming to my house for dinner. If you're going ghost hunting, I want to come too."
"It's not exactly ghost hunting...," Wufei said.
"Then what is it?"
"We're holding a séance. Trying to talk to the dead through a ouija board." Trowa stated. "I don't have any problem, but we shouldn't have more than four people at the board. Isn't that what your sister said Quatre?" Quatre nodded.
"She also said that having a female would be a good idea. At least one, but and even number was preferable."
"You mean I not only can come, I can participate?" Meiran asked eagerly. Trowa nodded. She grinned widely. "This'll be great! I've always wanted to see if those things actually worked. Come on Wufei, we'll be late to fencing practice." Grabbing his arm, she hauled him off.
"OI! Onna! Slow down!" Wufei ranted as they headed for the gym.
"Shut up, we'll be late otherwise and it would look bad if we were late!" Trowa turned to Quatre.
"Let's hope they don't argue while we're talking to Duo."
"He'd probably tell them both to shut up." Quatre snickered.
Heero watched as Trowa, Quatre, Wufei and Meiran slipped up the stairs to the third floor. He was attempting to repair a leak that had developed in the kitchen sink. Sally had driven him to his school across town, then back. He was going to transfer to Trowa's school at the end of the quarter, as it would be closer to his new home. For now, he still went to the private school his parents had paid for before they had left.
"Stupid parents, send me to a boarding school while they go around the world." He growled. "Then get themselves lost in some plane crash. Still haven't found the wreckage." He reached for a wrench began unscrewing the nut that held the faucet in place. No one heard his rant. Normally he wouldn't speak his thoughts out loud, but there was no one around. Trowa and his friends had gone upstairs and the evil ghost wasn't about. That ghost, part of the reason he'd agreed to come work for the Bartons. Heero knew that he couldn't fail his grandfather. The promise he'd made had yet to be fulfilled. So what if his parents never believed the old man, he had. He remembered when he was six and the house had lost yet another owner. He had snuck into the empty mansion and been confronted by the spirit. If it hadn't been for his grandfather coming to his rescue, the spirit would have hurt him. His grandfather had warned the ghost to stay way from his grandson and it had vanished. Now, ten years later, he was back in the house. Heero would remove the ghost and save the current owners at any cost. First though, he had to get the faucet fixed.
End Chapter 4
Tigress Pern